International News

Congo president Sassou Nguesso reelected in first round: official

BRAZZAVILLE, (APP/AFP): Congo president Denis Sassou
Nguesso extended his 32 years in power winning elections in the first round with 60 percent of the vote, the interior minister said Thursday.
Interior minister Raymond Zephyrin Mboulou announced the results on
national television at 3:30 am (0230 GMT) following a tense weekend poll held under a communications blackout.
The official count gave Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas 15 percent of the
vote and General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko came in third with 14 percent.
On Wednesday, the two opposition candidates rejected partial results
released by the national electoral commission, which gave the country’s
long-time ruler 67 percent of votes.
Oil-and timber-rich Congo has been on edge since an October
constitutional referendum that ended a two-term limit on presidential mandates, allowing the 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel to run for office again.
The long-serving leader is accused by critics of rampant corruption
and nepotism and of stifling democracy.